Ground mounting assembly

ABSTRACT

A ground mounting assembly, system and methods for ground mounting a structure include one or a plurality of posts, each of which are attached to at least one stabilizing plate. The posts may be at least partially positioned underground, with the stabilizing plates being buried to a depth of, for example, about 1 foot. Posts in a front portion of the mounting assembly optionally may be connected to an adjacent one of posts in a back portion of the assembly by a cross member. A ground mounted post that is driven them lifted to deploy uplift members. A ground mounting system based on a double pounder pile driven mono pole is also described.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/676,990, filed Nov. 14, 2012, which application in turn claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/560,037, filed Nov. 15, 2011.

FIELD

The present disclosure is generally related to ground mounting assemblies, systems and methods for ground mounting structures. The invention has particular utility in connection with ground mounting photovoltaic solar panel assemblies, and will be described in connection with such utility, although other utilities are contemplated, such as docks, wharfs, moorings, and building reinforcements.

BACKGROUND

Many outdoor structures, such as solar panel assemblies, billboards, signs, docks and wharfs, and the like, are mounted into the ground using posts or poles. Often, these assemblies are subjected to high winds, which can loosen the mounting posts, thereby making the assembly unstable. For example, solar panel assemblies typically have a large surface area for capturing solar energy; however, such assemblies also may be subjected to wind forces, which may be translated into the mounting posts, thereby loosening the soil surrounding the mounting structure. This problem is particularly amplified where such assemblies are mounted in loose or sandy soil. The same is true in docks and wharfs

In the case of solar panel assemblies, many such assemblies are mounted with posts that do not have sufficient underground surface area to provide adequate resistance to counter the wind forces acting upon the above-ground solar panel assembly. For example, a commonly used post in such assemblies may be about 2.5 inches in width. To address the problem of instability, one known technique involves pouring a cement cap over the entire surface of the mounting structure. However, this is a very costly measure, and further suffers from the disadvantage of making the installation a permanent or semi-permanent fixture. Thus, rearranging, modifying or retrofitting the installation becomes significant undertaking because of the presence of the cap.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a ground mounting assembly for mounting a structure, such as a photovoltaic system mounted to a ground mounting assembly, methods for stabilizing a preinstalled ground mounting assembly and methods for ground mounting a structure, including; docks, wharfs, moorings, antennas and building reinforcement. Briefly described, the present disclosure can be viewed as providing mounting assemblies, systems and methods for ground mounting structures utilizing posts having attached stabilizing plates for lateral and/or uplift forces.

In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a ground mounting assembly for mounting a structure, which includes one or a plurality of posts, each post being connected to at least one stabilizing element which may take the form of a flat plat which may be fixed to or togel mounted to the post, or a half-pyramid shaped structure, fixed to the post. A first portion of the one or more plurality of posts may define a front of the mounting assembly, and second portion of the one or more plurality of posts may define a back of the mounting assembly. Where there are a plurality of posts, each of the front posts may be connected to an adjacent one of the back posts by a cross member.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a photovoltaic system, which includes a ground mounting assembly having one or a plurality of posts, each post being connected to at least one stabilizing element. Where there are a plurality of posts, at least two of the plurality of posts may be connected by a cross member, and a solar panel array may be mounted to the ground mounting assembly.

In a further aspect, the present disclosure provides a method of stabilizing a preinstalled ground mounting assembly having one or a plurality of posts buried at least partially in the ground. The method includes the steps of: excavating an area of ground surrounding each of the posts; attaching at least one stabilizing element to each of the posts, in an area exposed by the excavating; and backfilling the excavated area. The method may further include, where there are a plurality of posts: excavating a portion of ground between posts defining a front of the mounting assembly and posts defining a back of the mounting assembly; and attaching a cross member between each of the front posts and an adjacent one of the back posts.

In yet another aspect, the present disclosure provides a method of ground mounting a structure, including the steps of: forming a mounting assembly by driving one or a plurality of posts into the ground, each of the posts being connected to at least one stabilizing element; and attaching the structure to an above-ground portion of the mounting assembly. The method may further include the steps of, where there are a plurality of posts: excavating an area of ground between posts defining a front of the mounting assembly and posts defining a back of the mounting assembly; attaching a cross member between each of the front posts and an adjacent one of the back posts; and backfilling the excavated area.

The features, functions, and advantages that have been discussed can be achieved independently in various embodiments of the present disclosure or may be combined in yet other embodiments further details of which can be seen with reference to the following description and drawings.

Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present disclosure, and be protected by the accompanying claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a front elevation view of a photovoltaic (PV) system, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a plan section at a post, taken along line 14 of FIG. 1, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a view of the system shown in FIG. 1, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of a side elevation view of the system shown in FIG. 1, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of stabilizing a preinstalled ground mounting assembly, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of ground mounting a structure, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.

FIGS. 7A-7C are perspective views of alternative embodiments of posts in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIGS. 8A-8B are side elevational views, and FIG. 8C is a perspective view, respectively, of yet another alternative embodiment of posts in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIGS. 9A-9D are side elevational views of yet another alternative embodiment of posts of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 10A-10B are side elevational views of still yet another embodiment of posts of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 11a-11f are side elevational and top end views of yet another embodiment of post of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a method of installing and stabilizing the post of FIGS. 11a -11 f.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a front elevational view of a dock or wharf in accordance With another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a front elevational view of a mooring in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a wharf or pier in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION

In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown, by way of illustration, various embodiments of the present disclosure. It is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a front elevation view of a photovoltaic (PV) system 10, in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. The system 10 includes a solar panel assembly 10 and a mounting assembly 20. The solar panel assembly 10 may include an array of solar panels 12, which may be physically joined to one another, as well as electrically connected.

The mounting assembly 20 includes a plurality of posts 22. In one embodiment posts 22 may be any pile, pole, stake, or any similar structure which may be positioned at least partially underground, and fixed firmly in an upright position. In one embodiment posts 22 may be sigma posts (as shown in the plan section of FIG. 2).

One or more stability elements 24 are attached to each post 22. The stability elements 24 may take the form of flat plates, and may be made, e.g. of galvanized steel. The elements or plates 24 may of any dimensions, depending on the desired stability and/or the type of structure to be mounted onto the mounting assembly 20. As shown in FIG. 1, the plates 24 may be approximately 12″×24″× 3/16″. Preferably, the stability plates 24 include angled lower corners 25. The lower corners 25 may have an angle of about 15° to 45°, preferably about 30° from the horizontal plane, as shown in FIG. 1. The angled corners 25 allow the plates 24, for example when attached to posts 22, to be more readily driven into the ground. The plates 24 are attached to the posts 22 by any known attachment techniques, including welding, epoxies or other adhesives, rivets, screws, nuts and bolts or any other structural fastener, and the like. As shown in the plan section of FIG. 2, taken along line 14, the plates 24 may be attached to the post 22 with a bolt 26.

Depending on the characteristics of the structure to be mounted, the position of attachment of the stability plates 24 to the posts 22, as well as the underground depth of the plates 24, may vary. As shown in FIG. 1, the structure to be mounted may be a solar panel assembly 10. For such a solar panel assembly 10, the stability plates 24 may preferably be attached to the posts 22 and buried to a depth of about 1′ from the top of the plates 24, as shown in FIG. 1. For example, posts 22 may be about 10′ in height, with an embedment depth of about 8′4″ and an above-ground height of about 1′8″. The stability plates 24 may be positioned underground such that the flat surface of the plates 24 faces the same direction as the vertical component (h) of the solar panels 12 of the assembly 10, as shown by the arrows in FIG. 4. That is, the buried flat surface of the plates 24 may face the same direction as the wind-bearing vertical component of the above-ground photovoltaic surface, thus providing underground resistance to prevent or minimize movement of the posts as the solar panels 12 are subjected to wind.

As shown in the plan view of FIG. 3, the posts 22 of the mounting assembly 20 may be arranged in a rectangular fashion, with a first set of posts 22 a defining a front of the assembly 20 and a second set of posts 22 b defining a back of the assembly 20. A length (l) of the assembly 20 may be defined by the total distance between front posts 22 a or back posts 22 b, while the width (w) of the assembly 20 may be defined by the distance between adjacent front 22 a and back 22 b posts. Other geometric patterns may be produced from the positioning of the posts, depending on the shape and mounting positions of the structure to be mounted, as those having ordinary skill in the relevant field will readily understand.

The posts 22 may be attached to each other with cross members 28, thereby providing further structural strength and stability to the mounting assembly 20 and the system 10. The cross members 28 may be any type of attachment member for providing stability and/or structural strength when attached between two or more posts 22. For example, the cross members 28 may be a rigid structure, such as a pole. The cross members 28 may be 2″×2″× 3/16″ galvanized tube steel.

As shown in the side elevation view of FIG. 4, the cross members 28 may be attached to the posts 22 underground (e.g., at a position above, below or near the position of the plates 24) and/or above ground. The cross members 28 may be attached to the posts 22 before or after installing the posts 22 in the ground. For example, slots may be dug into the ground, into which the cross members 28 and posts 22 may be positioned, and then backfilled. The cross members 28 may be attached to the post 22 by any known attachment techniques, including welding, rivets, epoxies or other adhesives, screws, nuts and bolts or any other structural fastener, and the like. As shown in FIG. 2, the cross members 28 may be attached to the post 22 with two self-drilling truss-head screws 29.

The cross members 28 may attach posts 22 in pairs, as shown in FIG. 3. The cross members 28 may attach posts 22 along an axis orthogonal to the flat surface of the plates 24 (e.g., as shown in FIG. 3, the cross members 28 attach front posts 22 a to back posts 22 b along an axis orthogonal to the surface of the plates 24). By attaching cross members 28 to posts 22 orthogonal to the plane of the surface of the plates 24, stability to the mounting assembly 20 is provided to the system 100 to counter wind against the face of the solar panel assembly 10. A structure to be mounted, such as the solar panel assembly 10, may be of a size such that it may be desirable to form the mounting assembly 20 of two or more pairs of posts 22 (e.g., four pairs of posts 22, as shown in FIG. 3). However, the mounting assembly 20 may include any number of posts 22, and may include cross members 28 which may attach posts 22 in any direction, for example, front posts 22 a to adjacent back posts 22 b, front 22 a to front 22 a, back 22 b to back 22 b, as well as front posts 22 a to non-adjacent back posts 22 b.

The solar panel assembly 10 may be mounted to the mounting assembly 20, for example, by attaching mounting posts 16 of the solar panel assembly 10 to above-ground portions of the posts 22 of the mounting assembly 20. While the mounting assembly 20 has been described primarily with respect to mounting a solar panel assembly 10, any other assembly may be mounted to the mounting assembly 20 of the present disclosure. For example, the mounting assembly 20 may be used for mounting other types of photovoltaic systems, including PV concentrators and mirror assemblies, as well as billboards, signs or any other structure which may be subjected to winds.

Existing mounting structures may be retrofitted for stability utilizing principles provided by the present disclosure. For example, an existing mounting structure for a photovoltaic system may include posts 22 which have previously been driven into the ground, and to which a solar panel assembly 10 has been attached. To provide increased stability, particularly in loose or sandy soil, plates 24 may be attached to the posts 22. In order to attach the plates 24, an area of ground surrounding the posts 22 may be dug out, for example to a depth of about 3 feet. Plates 24 may then be attached to the posts, for example with bolts 26. For further stability, cross members 28 may be attached between adjacent front 22 a and back 22 b posts, for example, by digging a trench between posts 22, attaching cross members 28, and backfilling the trenches.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart 500 illustrating a method of stabilizing a preinstalled ground mounting assembly having a plurality of posts 22 buried at least partially in the ground, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. As shown by block 502, an area of ground surrounding each of the posts 22 is excavated. At block 504, a stabilizing plate 24 is attached to each of the posts 22, in an area exposed by the excavation. At block 506, the excavated area is backfilled. The stabilizing plates 24 may be attached to the posts 22 at a position such that the top edge of the stabilizing plates 24 is buried to a depth of about 1 foot underground.

The method may further include excavating a portion of ground between posts 22 a defining a front of said mounting assembly and posts 22 b defining a back of the mounting assembly 20, and attaching a cross member 28 between each of front posts 22 a and an adjacent one of the back posts 22 b.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart 600 illustrating a method of ground mounting a structure. As shown by block 602, a mounting assembly 20 is formed by driving a plurality of posts 22 into the ground, each of the posts 22 being connected to a stabilizing plate 24. At block 604, the structure is attached to an above-ground portion the mounting assembly 20. The posts 22 may be driven into the ground to a position such that the stabilizing plates 24 are buried to a depth of about 1 foot underground. The structure may be a solar panel array 10.

The method may further include excavating an area of ground between posts 22 a defining a front of the mounting assembly 20 and posts 22 b defining a back of the mounting assembly 20, and attaching a cross member 28 between each of the front posts 22 a and an adjacent one of the back posts 22 b, and backfilling the excavated area.

It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present disclosure, particularly, any “preferred” embodiments, are merely possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the disclosure. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments of the disclosure without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the disclosure. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 7A-7C, the piles or posts 100A, 100B, 100C may have different cross-sections, and may have multiple plates 102 mounted thereon. Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 8A-8C, one or more additional stabilizing elements in the form of a half pyramid-shaped structure 102 may be fixedly mounted, using, for example, mounting plates 104, to posts 22 for stabilizing the structure against uplift. In such embodiment, the half pyramid-shaped stabilizing elements preferably are fixed to the lower half of posts 22. In still yet another embodiment, shown in FIGS. 9A-9D, the stabilizing elements may take the form of togel mounted anchor plates 106 which are pivotably mounted to posts 22 around a pivot 108. In the case of pivotably mounted stabilizing elements or plates 106, the post typically will be driven in the ground below a target position, e.g. as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B. The posts would then be pulled vertically into a final position causing the togel mounted plates 106 to fan out against a stop plate 110 which, in a preferred embodiment, comprises a half pyramid-shaped element. Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the stabilizing elements may take the form of bendable plates 112 having reduced resistance bending points 114, fixed to post 22 adjacent their lower ends by fasteners 116. The upper, free ends 118 of plates 112 preferably are curved outwardly. Also, the disclosure advantageously may be used with solar thermal energy systems, docks, wharfs, and moorings.

Referring now to FIGS. 11a-11f , and FIG. 12, in yet another embodiment of the invention, the pole comprises a double pounder pile driven mono pole comprising an elongate hollow pole 150, preferably having a square cross section, capped at its distal end 152 by a pyramid-shaped point 154. The double pounder pile driven mono pole 150 includes a follower 158 that is spring-mounted to the top plate 160 forming the pyramid point 154 via steel tube spacer 162. In use, the double pounder pile driven mono pole is first driven into the ground to a desired depth, using a conventional pole or pile driver, in step 1. The pile is then stabilized with ground stabilizer plates 164 step 2. Then, a plunger 150 A or ram is driven down the inside of pole 150, in a step 3, to drive steel plates 170 substantially horizontally outward, over plate rollers 166, which may be lubricated, if desired, with an environmentally safe lubricant such as vegetable oil or the like, through slots 168 formed adjacent the distal end of pole 150 to provide for lift restraining baffles or wings the double pounder may be equipped with plates 150 B to resist lateral load. The double pounder pile driven mono pole may then be used in combination with other like or different poles such as previously described, or may be used alone for mounting PV systems such as shown in FIG. 13. The resulting mono pole with a solar panel array attached to it, is capable of counteracting significant loads, and offers significant advantages over conventional concrete spread footing which require steel reinforced concrete and anchor bolts, etc.

Referring now to FIG. 14, in yet another embodiment of the invention, a dock or wharf may be mounted to a plurality of ground mounting poles as above described, in which the distal ends of the poles are driven into the lake, river or sea bed, while the proximal ends extend above the water, and a dock or wharf is mounted thereon. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 15, the ground mounting poles as previously described may be driven into a lake, river or sea bed, the pile pulled up into a final position, and the pile driver unscrewed, and a mooring attached to the proximal end of the pole. See also FIG. 16, which illustrates another embodiment of the disclosure in the form of a wharf or pier.

In yet another embodiment, not shown, ground mounting poles as previously described may be driven into the ground adjacent a building or other structure and used to reinforce or stabilize the building or other structure. The ground mounting poles also may be used for mounting antennas.

All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of the present disclosure and protected by the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A ground mounted structure, comprising: a structure mounted to a ground mounting pole having a proximal end extending from the ground, and a distal end driven into the ground, wherein the ground mounting pole comprises an elongate hollow pole, said elongate hollow pole being open at the pole's proximal end to accommodate a pole driving plunger, said pole having a pointed cap at the pole's distal end, a tube spacer mounted to the cap within a hollow of the pole, and a follower that is mounted to the cap via the tube spacer, said pole further having at least one stabilizing element adjacent the pole distal end wherein said at least one stabilizing element adjacent the pole distal end comprises at least one flat plate extendable through a slot in a wall of the hollow pole, adjacent the distal end thereof, said pole further including at least one plate roller adjacent the pole distal end thereof for shaping and directing the at least one flat plate sideways from the pole, wherein the at least one plate roller is positioned in an intersecting position of a longitudinal plane of the at least one flat plate and fixed to allow the at least one flat plate to move over relative to the at least one plate roller in the axis of the elongate hollow pole when the at least one flat plate is extended; and wherein said follower is spaced from said wall of the hollow pole to define a gap configured to accommodate said at least one stabilizing element.
 2. The ground mounted structure of claim 1, further including one or more ground stabilizing elements affixed to the pole above ground.
 3. The ground mounted structure of claim 1, wherein the pointed cap is shaped as a pyramid.
 4. The ground mounted structure of claim 1, wherein said pole is square in cross-section.
 5. The ground mounted structure of claim 1, wherein the structure is selected from the group consisting of a solar panel or solar panel array, a pier, wharf, mooring, antenna or building structure.
 6. The ground mounted structure of claim 5, wherein the solar panel comprises a solar thermal collector panel or a photovoltaic collector panel.
 7. The ground mounted structure of claim 5, wherein the solar panel array comprises a stationary solar panel.
 8. The ground mounted structure of claim 5, wherein the solar panel array comprises a tracking solar panel.
 9. A method for mounting a structure to the ground comprising providing a ground mounting pole as claimed in claim 1; driving the distal end of the ground mounting pole into the ground to a desired depth; fixing ground stabilizing plates to the proximal end of the pole; providing a plunger or ram, and driving at least two stabilizing elements from the inside of the pole in position adjacent the distal end of the pole, by engaging the plunger or ram in contact with the at least two stabilizing elements, wherein the at least one plate roller further comprises at least two plate rollers, whereby the at least two stabilizing elements contact the at least two plate rollers and are directed sideways from the pole with the at least two plate rollers, each positioned in an intersecting position of a longitudinal plane of one of the at least two stabilizing elements, respectively.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the pole is set to a desired depth by a pile driver.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least two stabilizing elements are driven from the pole by a pile driver.
 12. A pier, wharf, mooring, antenna, or building mounted to a ground mounting pole having a proximal end extending from the ground, and a distal end driven into the ground, wherein the ground mounting pole comprises an elongate hollow pole, said elongate hollow pole being open at the pole's proximal end to accommodate a pole driving plunger, said pole having a pointed cap at the pole's distal end, a tube spacer mounted to the cap within a hollow of said pole, a tube spacer mounted to the cap within a hollow of the pole, and a follower that is mounted to the cap via the tube spacer, said pole further having at least one stabilizing element adjacent the pole distal end or along a length of the pole, below ground, wherein the stabilizing element comprises a wing, or a flat plate extending through a slot in a wall of the hollow pole that when deployed, resists uplift and vertical force with a locking mechanism, wherein the stabilizing element is directed through the slot in the wall of the hollow pole with at least one plate roller fixed in an intersecting position of a longitudinal plane of the stabilizing element to allow the at least one flat plate to move over relative to the at least one plate roller in an axis of the elongate hollow pole when the at least one flat plate is extended; wherein said follower is spaced from said interior surface of said wall of the hollow pole to define a gap configured to accommodate said at least one stabilizing element.
 13. The ground mounted structure of claim 12, further including one or more ground stabilizing elements affixed to the pole below ground or for moorings below a sea, a lake, or a riverbed level.
 14. The ground mounted structure of claim 12, wherein the pointed cap at the distal end of the pole is shaped as a pyramid or a point.
 15. The ground mounted structure of claim 12, wherein said pole is square, round or geometric hollow or solid in cross-section.
 16. The ground mounted structure of claim 12, wherein the at least one plate roller is positioned adjacent the pole distal end for shaping and directing the at least one bendable plate sideways from the pole.
 17. A method for ground mounting a solar energy array, pier, wharf, mooring or building structure comprising providing a ground mounting pole as claimed in claim 1: driving the distal end of the pole into the ground to a desire depth; fixing ground stabilizing plates to the proximal end of the pole; providing a plunger or ram, and driving at least two stabilizing elements from the inside of the pole in position adjacent the distal end or along a length of the pole, below ground, by engaging the plunger or ram to contact the at least two stabilizing elements, wherein the at least one plate roller further comprises at least two plate rollers, whereby the at least two stabilizing elements contact the at least two plate rollers and are directed sideways from the pole with at least two plate rollers, each positioned in an intersecting position of a longitudinal plane of one of the at least two stabilizing elements, respectively.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the pole is set to a desired depth by a pile driver.
 19. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least two stabilizing elements are driven from the pole by a pile driver.
 20. The method of claim 17, further comprising affixing additional stabilizing elements to the pole prior to the driving the pole into the ground.
 21. The ground mounted structure of claim 12, wherein the pole comprises a hollow pole or a solid pole.
 22. The method of claim 20, wherein the pole comprises a hollow pole or a solid pole.
 23. The method of claim 20, wherein the additional stabilizing elements comprise a pyramid, a hinged plate or bendable flat plate. 